Hobby horse



Oct. 30, 1956 s bo 2,768,833

HOBBY HORSE v V Filed June 24, 1954 I 3 Sheets-$heet 1 so sm OFF;

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HUEaNe-mBEEHLE/Q,

. WO/PREL 8 HERZ/G,

' ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 30, 1956 E SIDQFF' 2,768,833

HOBBY HORSE Filed June 24, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ED S/DOFF,

IN V EN TOR. HUEBNE'R, EEE'HLER,

WORREL 8 HERZ/G, By A TTORNEVS.

oct. 30, 1956 s no 2,768,833

HOBBY HORSE Filed June 24, 1954 3 Shegts-Sneet 5 ED S/DOF'F,

INVENTOR.

HUEBNER,BEEHLER,

WORREL 8 HERZ/G,

ATTORNEYS- HOBBY HORSE Ed Sidoflr, Los Angeles, Calif. Application June 24, 195'4, Serial No. 438,903

6 Claims. (Cl. 280-1182) This invention relates to toy vehicles, and more particularly to a simulatede. g., horselike, or bucking vehicle embodying a reciprocating, substantially vertical movement of the horse body, accompanied by a selective forward or rearward motion thereof.

It is intended by the instant invention to provide a new and improved vehicular toy for children.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved, preferably horselike, toy vehicle embodying new and improved means for causing a rearing or plunging action of the simulated animal, accompanied by a preselected forward or rearward movement of the vehicle Another object of the invention is the provision in a toy of the desired character described of new and improved means for inducing forward or rearward movement of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is the provision in such a toy vehicle of new and improved seat means having a new and improved association with an operative mechanism for inducing progressive forward orv rearward movement of the vehicle, associated with a vertical component of movement induced by a movable seat whereby the weight of the occupant is selectively transferred to positions effective to induce said vertical movement and hence also said forward or rearward movement.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of a new and improved toy vehicle of the described character having new and improved resilient, shock-absorbing means, and new and improved adjustable means to accommodate the apparatus to persons of different size and weight.

It is also among the objects of the invention to provide improvements over prior art devices heretofore intended to accomplish generally similar purposes.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the construction, arrangement and combina tion of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

nitcd States Patent Figure 1 is a side view of'a toy vehicle embodying this invention. 7

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional viewas on a'line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical adetailed sectional view as on a line 33 of Figure 2. 1 f

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view asona line 4-4 of Figure 2. i

Figure 5 is a view similar to the right-hand side of Figure 4, but showing the parts in a different operative relationship.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view as on a line 66 of Figure l.

Figure 7 is a front view, partially in section, of the vehicle, the simulated horse body being omitted.

Patented Oct. 30, 1956 "ice Figure 8 is a side view, as from the right-hand side of Figure 7, showing said front end of said vehicle.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view as on a line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figures 10 through 12 are schematic representations of the vehicle illustrating its mode of operation and locomotion.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, a horse-body 20, formed of wood or any other suitable material, having an integral frame member 21 pivotally secured to a vertical back frame element 22, as by a transverse. pin 23. Said frame element 22, in the instant embodiment, simulates, in position and action, the hind legs of a horse. Said frame member 21 is also secured at its front end to a front vertical element 24, simulating the front legs of a horse, as by means of rivets,

A vertically adjustable foot-rest 25 is pivotally mounted as at 26, in a depending stirrup member 27, likewise secured as by rivets 28 to said frame member 21.

Rear wheels 29 and 30 are mounted as upon respective axles 31, and their upper portions are enclosed as in a housing 32, provided with a side plate 33 held thereon by screws 34.

Front wheels 39 and 40 are preferably similarly mounted on a transverse turning bar 38.

Said front wheels 39 and 40 are, like the rear wheels, mounted in spaced axial relationship, their upper parts being optionally enclosed in corresponding housings 32, respectively, which may be similar, in all respects, except as hereinafter noted, to those housing the rear wheels 29 and 3t In the instant embodiment, the rearward, vertical frame 22 is pivoted at 23, as above stated, to the frame member 21, while the forward vertical frame element 24 is fixedly secured to said frame member 21. This arrangement is preferred, but it is within the contemplation of this invention to provide a pivotal securement for the front frame element 24 to said frame member 21 as Well. Also, it is contemplated that the front element 24 may be pivoted to said frame member and the rear frame element 22 be fixedly secured to said frame mem ber. The relative pivoting of one or both of said frame elements will depend upon the desired operation of the device within the skill of the trade.

A seat 45 is mounted on the horse-body for forward and rearward movement of the seat and the body of the horse relative to the frame 21, as by means of a crosshead 46 integral with the seat and having a plurality of rollers 47 retained therein and adapted to make rolling supporting engagement with the under surface 48 of a seat-supporting, body-reinforcing member 49 undercut to provide accommodation for the rollers and cross-head 4'7 and 46. Said rollers 47 also make rolling, seatsupporting engagement with the upper surface 50 of the Figure l or 4, by means of a coil spring 53, secured as by a-pin 54 in the frame member 21, and on a pin 55 in said rear frame element 22 as through a turnbuckle 56, by means of which the tension of said spring 53 can be readily adjusted, by access provided under the horse-body. A rubber cushion 58 is provided by means of a pocket 59 adapted to accommodate the same in'the upper endof the rear frame element 22. A pair of pins or other suitable abutments 6t), and 61 respectively limit the counterclockwise and clockwise rotation of said frame element 22.

A recess 63 has suitably shaped cam surfaces adapted to cause clutching engagement of a clutch element 64, preferably in the form of a hexagonal rod or sprag, all adapted to permit counterclockwise rotation of the wheels 29 and 30 respectively, but to restrain relative clockwise rotation thereof as seen, for example, in Figure 3. A pin 65 comprises a manipulative finger which, when the same is moved inwardly to engage the clutch element 64, prevents locking of said clutch element with the wheel, thus permitting free rotation of the wheels in either direction.

A block 66, preferably of rubber, though optionally of wood, metal, plastic or other such material, is formed with a bottom surface 69. Wire or the like supports 79 have ends '71 inserted into the block at the opposite sides thereof, optionally on or above the geometrical axis of said block, so that in a normal depending position from said ends 71, the blocks tend to orient themselves gravitationally so that the bottom faces 67 are horizontal and engageable against a floor surface 72. Said wires 70 form a preferably elongate opening '73 at their upper ends to loosely encircle the axle 31 and permit relative radial movement of the block 66 toward and away from the tread of the wheels 29 and 30.

Steering of the device is accomplished by a handle 75 journalled through the frame member 21, at 76 and 77, and retained by a locking ring 78. The handle is bent at 79, and the end 80 thereof is guided in a slot 81 formed in rearwardly directed flange 82 on the steering axle 38 by means of a vertical pin 83. The axle 38 is rotated upon a vertical pin 84 depending from the front vertical frame element 24, to which it is secured as through a washer 85, as by means of a cotter pin, or the like, 86.

As illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12, progress of the vehicle is by progressive individual movements.

In operation, the child sits upon the seat or saddle 4-5, with his feet on the supports 25. The spring 53 is adjusted to the weight of the child by means of a turnbuckle 55 in such a manner that when the seat is in the forwardmost position, as illustrated in Figure 10, the weight of the child is insufficient to overcome the tension of the spring 53. However, upon rearward movement of the seat 45, as in the position illustrated in Figure 11, the spring tension is overcome and the rear frame element 22 is pi oted to a limit of counterclockwise rotation until the rubber cushion 58 engages against the stop 69. Meanwhile, the rear wheels are prevented from rotation, either by the clutch element 64 or the block 66, or both, so that the frame and the horse-body are thereby moved forward relative to the rear wheels in the position illustrated in Figure 11.

The child again forces the saddle 45 forwardly, either by means of the foot supports 25, orby permitting the saddle to roll forwardly gravitationally, so that the tension in the spring 53 again overcomes the weight of'the apparatus and the child, and draws the rear frame element 22 to a limit of clockwise movement as illustrated in solid outline in Figure 1 (or as more generally shown, in Figure 12). By means of the rearward and forward movement of the seat 45, as last described, the vehicle has been moved from a position indicated by a vertical 88 in common to Figures 10, 11 and 12, to a new position as shown in Figure 12.

It is sometimes desirable to provide clutch mechanisms for the front wheels corresponding to those illustrated engaged by the plungers 65) the child needs merely to force the vehicle rearwardly over the blocks, to bring the blocks in front of the respective wheels, so that said reciprocating motion of the seat 45 and the childs weight added thereto, causes the horse to move rearwardly rather than forwardly, in progressive states. Thus, the direction of locomotion may be reversed at will.

The foot support 25 is sturdily held in a position of adjustment, as by means of a toothed construction 90 and bolts 91. The angle of the foot support 25 is also adjustable on a toothed connection 92, and a nut and stud 93.

It is Within the contemplation of this invention to make the spring of any desired strength or r'igidityeven a solid rod of incompressible, or partially incompressible and unstretchable material so that the spring action is minimized or obviated. In such event the horses neck, to which the forward end of the spring or rod is attached, provides any degree of mechanical leverage advantage to pull the rear legs into a charging but not over-center position, when said neck is pivoted on a horizontal axis at its base.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent materials, structures and devices.

I claim:

1. A vehicle of the character described, comprising: a frame for support of a rider, a seat mounted on the frame, means between the seat and the frame to permit limited fore and aft movement of the seat relative to the frame, a vertical frame element pivotally connected to the frame having a lower ground-engaging wheel means adapted to move over a floor, tension means connected to the vertical frame element and the frame for support normally urging said frame element to a limit of rotative movement in one direction, means mounted on said frame for support limiting said rotative movement in said direction and in the opposite direction, adjustment means associated with said tension means for adjusting the tension thereof relative to the weight of a rider seated on the seat, and block means for said floor-engaging end of the frame element having slanted surfaces adapted to prevent preselected forward or rearward movement of said vehicle, said slanted surfaces being adapted for said floor-engaging wheel means to ride thereover upon application of predetermined force by the rider.

2. A vehicle as described in claim 1, said block means comprising a triangular block member, and arm means pivotally secured to opposite ends of said block member, and including slot-like connection with said frame whereby said block member is movable toward and away from the lower end portion of said frame element.

3. A vehicle of the character described, comprising: a frame for support of a rider, a seat mounted on the frame, means between the seat and the frame to permit limited fore and aft movement of the seat relative to the frame, a vertical frame element pivotally connected to the frame having a lower ground-engaging wheel means adapted to move over a floor, tension means connected to the vertical frame element andthe frame for support normally urging said frame element to a limit of rotative movement in one direction, means mounted on said frame for support limiting said, rotative movement in said direction and in the opposite direction, adjustment means associated with said tension means for adjusting the tension thereof relative to the weight of a rider seated on the seat.

4. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, and foot support means depending from said frame adjacent and below said seat for facilitating said forward and rearward movement' of said seat relative to said frame.

5. In a vehicle of the character described, a support frame, a horse-body mounted upon the support frame and including a seat, roller means between said body and support frame to provide limited forward and rearward reciprocating motion of the body relative to the support frame, wheel means mounted on a vertical frame member pivotally connected to the support frame for forward and rearward movement, spring means connected between the support frame and the vertical frame member normally urging said wheel means forwardly, said spring means being adjustable to the weight of a rider whereby forward movement of the rider and body rela tive to the frame does not, but rearward movement of the rider and body relative to the frame does, overcome said spring means, and foot support means on the frame means positioned below the body to permit the rider to move said body selectively forwardly or rearwardly on the frame.

6. In a vehicle comprising a support frame having a foot-rest and ground wheels mounted on a vertical frame member pivotally connected to the support frame, a seatbody mounted for limited reciprocating forward and rearward movement on the support frame, spring means connected between selected ground wheels and the support frame to urge said selected wheels to a limit of forward or rearward motion relative to the support frame, means connected to the ground wheels to limit said motion, said seat-body having positions of said movement relative to the stzpport frame and the spring means for applying a riders weight to overcome the spring means and force said selected wheels to an opposite lirnit of said motion and having other positions relative to said support frame and spring where said spring overcomes said weight, tension adjustment means connected to the spring means to adjust the tension of said spring means relative to the weight of the rider, and selective means connected to selected ground wheels to restrain selected of said wheels from forward or rearward movement, but to permit movement thereof in an opposite direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,440,088 Kroher Dec. 26, 1922 1,651,583 Calleson Dec. 6, 1927 2,651,527 Thoren Sept. 8, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 508,057 France July 13, 1920 664,450 Great Britain Feb. 28, 1949 446,970 Italy Mar. 29, 1949 

